German Zeppelin raid on Wallsend April 14, 1915

On April 14, 1915, a German Zeppelin raid damaged a house in Station Road, Wallsend, with the Robinson family lucky to escape with minor injuries.

The bomb came through their roof leaving a gaping hole in the ceiling and causing a fire.

George and Margaret Jane (nee Graydon) Robinson married in Teesdale in 1878. They were in Darlington on the 1881 Census and moved to Byker, then Jesmond, settling in Benton Way, Wallsend, by the 1911 Census.

They have no children but James William Brown, George’s nephew, and Dorothy Ann Owens (nee Brown), aged 44, with her children, Margaret Jane and Deborah are listed.

George had a general dealer at 109 Buddle Street, and by 1914 directories they are at 238 Station Road.

Mrs Robinson was 57 when the incident occurred, and the article detailing the bombing raid states that a boy aged seven had his hair singed and a younger girl was in the bath and escaped injury, the children may belong to the younger woman.

The family continued living at the property until at least 1918, and the impact on the family and their neighbours of the bombing and subsequent clear-up, is the subject of an Arts Council funded project.

Twenty children from Christ Church CofE Primary School in North Shields are part of an after-school drama group run by Bigfoot Theatre Company, using Discover resources, to produce a digital First World War One memorial and a film launched in North Shields Library this month.

If anyone has further information, ask for Discover at North Shields Customer First Centre on (0191) 643 5270 or email discover@northtyneside.gov.uk